Selective soapy water or clean water dispenser



April 22, 1969 5. M. DE MAY 3,439,698

SELECTIVE SOAPY WATER OR CLEAN" WATER DISPENSER Filed Jan. 25. 1967 Sheet 0f 2 W ffM/MLZL dz/may. 31 Mama/7M U Z AQM "April22, 1959 MDE MAY v 3,439,698

SELECTIVE SOAPY WATER OR CLEAN WATER DISPENSER Filed Jan. 25, 1967 v Sheet 3 of 2 Wyo United States Patent US. Cl. 137-268 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for dissolving solid material in a liquid which is supplied to and withdrawn from a mixing chamber through a plate valve, formed with injection nozzles and manually adjustable to cut off the supply or to discharge solution or liquid.

This invention relates to apparatus for dissolving and mixing materials in a flowing liquid or Water supply and is concerned with an improved device comprising a dispenser having a mixing chamber in which a charge of compacted or encapsulated material can be inserted and embodying ,a control lever for changing over from solution to clean water and vice versa at will.

According to the present invention a mixing and dispensing apparatus comprising a body having a mixing chamber and provided with a detachable cap for access to the chamber, inlet and outlet ports in the body for admission and discharge of liquid and to permit of drainage therefrom and a valve plate mounted for angular displacement within the chamber, said valve plate being provided with injection nozzle elements for the incoming liquid, said nozzle elements extending perpendicularly to the plate and serving to locate cartridges or capsules, said valve plate also being provided with outlet and drainage ports adapted to be brought into registration with the outlet port in the body, said valve plate further being provided on its underside with a feed channel, the channel having another set of ports giving access to the chamber through the injection nozzle elements, the channel also having branch limbs adapted to be brought into registration with the set of ports in the body for admission of liquid to the channel and the valve having three positions whereby (i) Two of said limbs can be positioned to place the channel in connection respectively with the inlet and outlet ports in the body for direct passage of liquid therebetween without entering the mixing chamber or (ii) A branch limb of the channel can be placed in connection with the inlet port and the outlet port in the valve plate can simultaneously be placed in connection with the outlet port in the body to enable liquid to pass through the chamber and out through the outlet port or (iii) The inlet of liquid can be cut olf and the drain port of the valve plate can be placed in connection with the outlet port of the body.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the valve plate is formed of moulded plastics material and the nozzle elements are formed integrally therewith, the valve plate also being provided with spacing means to support the solid cartridges or the like in a position above the valve plate. For this purpose studs with or without spigoted ends are preferably mounted integrally with the valve plate.

One application of this invention relates to synthetic detergents which are available in liquid, powder and other forms and are usually dissolved in water by adding a quantity of the detergent to the water in a mixing device.

In one commercial application particularly when clean ing vehicles it is desirable, in order to prevent excessiv use and thus wastage of the detergent, to provide a miX ing chamber and to make provision eitherfor the dis charge of the detergent mixture or subsequently whei cleaning down the vehicle to change from the cleansing detergent mixture to clean water.

One such embodiment of this invention is illustrated it the accompanying drawings in which,

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a dispensing device partly in section to show the interior of the mixing chamber,

FIGURES 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and underside view with the cover removed in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are sectional views from above 01 the rotary valve of the device showing the arrangemen' of fiow passages.

Referring to the drawings the dispenser comprises cylindrical body 1 having a detachable screw-on cap and within which is a mixing chamber 7. Bores 3 and are formed in base 5 of the mixing chamber 7 to act a: inlet and outlet respectively and are located so as to be diametrically opposed.

Bracket arms 6, preferably moulded integrally with t i body 1, enable the dispenser to be attached to eg a walj with the mixing chamber vertical. As shown in FIGURE 2 each arm is arcuate in plan so that when in position the body will stand away from the wall to provide clearance for inlet and discharge pipes. Such a construction alsc provides springiness and promotes shock resistance Furthermore, the end faces of each arm provide stop! for a control handle or lever 10 and are conveniently positioned for operational instructions e.g. WATER as shown in FIGURE 1.

In the base 5 is an axial bore 5' for a spindle 11, the spindle being moulded integrally at its outer end with handle 10 while its inner end has keyed thereto a valve disc 12. In the bores 3, 4, counter bores 3', 4' respectively are provided in which are inserted pipe connection nozzles 9 and it will be seen that the centre of the base is cut away to provide a recess to accommodate the head 10 of the spindle secured to the valve disc 12.

When the body is formed of moulded plastics material as is preferred the nozzles 9 or similar inserts can be moulded in position.

In the underside of disc 12 is an annular channel 17 having three radial branch limbs 18, 19 and 20 of equal length, the outer ends of these limbs being capable oi registration with one of bores 3 and 4. Angularly spaced holes 21, 22 are also provided in the valve disc 12 and it will be seen that these lie on a circle Whose diameter is such that they can respectively be brought into registra tion with the bore 4, the hole 21 being diametrically opposed to the limb 19, while the hole 22 is not in diametric alignment with any of the limbs.

Moulded integrally with the valve disc, which is machined to make contact with the base of the chamber, are three equidistantly spaced, tangentially perforated, liquid injection tubes 13. The axes are arranged to coincide with the channel 17 and have axial passages which communicate directly therewith. Liquid entering the injection tubes 13 will thus discharge into the mixing chamber through the perforations which will induce a vertical flow pattern in the chamber.

The tubes 13 serve to locate a charge of solid detergent cartridges, capsules or the like, three of which are shown in dot and dash lines in FIGURE 2. In the embodiment shown the injection tubes 13 have perforations 15 over their length but in practice the moulding including the tubes may be formed un-pierced and pierced or truncated by the user to suit his requirements.

Preferably, as shown, studs 14 having spigoted ends 14' are provided on which the detergent cartridges 16 rest hereby supporting the cartridges and preventing clogging )f the outlet from the mixing chamber by undissolved particles of solid which have detached themselves from be solid charge. The ends of the spigots 14 may also Jptionally be perforated by the user in order to facilitate solution of the cartridges when they have dissolved to a large extent.

The hole 21 in the valve disc 12 is brought into use when discharging solution at which time disc 12 is turned to bring hole 21 over the outlet 4 and channel 19 over inlet 3 as shown in FIGURE 5. Liquid entering 3 will thus w into channel 17 via limb 19 and thence be injected into the chamber 7 via the tubes 13, finally leaving the :hamber through hole 21 and outlet 4. The second hole 22 serves as a drain outlet to enable the contents of chamber 7 to drain out through 4 when the valve disc is in the 01f position as shown in FIGURE 4. When passing liquid e.g. water through the dispenser, with disc 12 which in the position shown in FIGURE 2 liquid passes through inlet 3 along limb 20 around channel;17 and thence outwardly via limb 18 and outlet 4.

The width of the channel 17 in practice is arranged to be equal to the internal diameter of the liquid injection tubes and of a depthsto give a cross-sectional area for [low equal to that of the injection tubes.

In operation, having connected up the nozzles 9 to the necessary lengths of hosing,-the cap 2 is .removed and the detergent cartridges or capsules are placed in position, resting on therstuds 14. Having replaced the :ap 2 and assuming it is desired to discharge water the valve lever 10 is moved against the stop face 23 marked Water when the valve disc 12 takes up the FIGURE 2 position, water entering throughinlet 3 whence it flows along channel 17 and out through outlet opening 4 without entering chamber 7. No detergent solution can therefore be produced as there is no access from mixing chamber 7 to outlet opening 4.

In order to shut off the unit, valve lever 10 is moved to a central position when the disc is in the'position shown in FIGURE 4. Inlet opening 3 is blanked ofl by disc 12 and no water enters the unit. Hole 22 now connects the mixing chamber with the outlet opening 4 and allows any solution remaining in the mixing chamber'to' drain. This avoids the breakdown of the detergent charge by dissolutionwhen not actually in use.

To discharge detergent solution the valve lever 10-is moved against the stop face 23 opposite the inlet 3 to' bring the valve disc into position shown in FIGURE 5. Water on entering inlet 3 circulates'round channel 17 and from there passes into mixing chamber 7 through the holes in guide tubes 13. A swirling motion is then set up facilitating dissolution of the charge to'form a mixture of detergent solution and foam which leaves the chamber through hole 21 and outlet opening 4. 1

Replenishment of the mixing chamber with a fresh charge is easily achieved by unscrewing the cap 2.

Thermoplastic materials of construction are used, preferably polypropylene but materials such as brass or aluminium alloy may be used.

The support studs 14 may be supplemented by other support means such as a raised grid or wire tray of circular plan, the tray or grid having holes to allow it to be placed in the chamber around the injection tubes and resting on the collars formed at the extension of the studs by the spigot ends 14.

Alternative applications for this device are the dispensing of dilute solutions of materials such as fertilizers for horticulture use, crop sprays, disinfectants for general purposes, fire retardents or extinguishers.

What I claim is:

1. In a mixing and dispensing apparatus for mixing materials with a flowing liquid and comprising a hollow body having a base and a detacheble cap, a mixing chamber enclosed within said body, inlet and outlet ports insaid body for admission and discharge of liquid, the

improvement comprising a valve plate mounted for angular displacement within said chamber, a plurality of injection nozzle elements on said plate and extending into the chamber and serving to locate cartridges or capsules, outlet and drainage ports in said plate for registration with said body outlet port, a feed channel formed in said valve plate on its underside, passages through said valve plate communicating said channel with said injection nozzle elements, and a plurality of branch limbs projecting out of said channel and means for effecting displacement of said valve plate to position a selected port and/or limb for registration with said body ports so as to admit liquid to said channel and whereby,

(i) two of said limbs can be positioned to place said channel in connection respectively with said body inlet and outlet ports for direct passage of liquid therebetween without entering said mixing chamber or (ii) one branch limb of said channel can be placed in connection with said body inlet port and said valve plate outlet port can simultaneously be placed in connection with said body outlet port to enable liquid to pass through said chamber and out through said outlet ports or (iii) said body inlet port can be closed off and said drainage port can be placed in connection with said body outlet port to allow drainage of said mixing chamber.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, comprising injection nozzle elements having laterally directed discharge orifices.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said valve plate is provided with spacing means to support the cartridges or capsules in a position above said valve plate.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, comprising a valve plate formed of synthetic plastics material and having nozzle elements moulded integrally therewith.

5. Ina mixing and dispensing apparatus for mixing materials with a flowing liquid and comprising a hollow body having a base and a-detachable cap secured on said body, a cylindrical mixing chamber enclosed within said body, inlet and outlet ports in said body for admission and discharge of liquid and to permit of drainage therefrom, the improvement comprising a valve plate mounted for angular displacement with said chamber and in sliding engagement with said base an axially directed spindle formed on said valve'plate, and projecting through said base and means connected to said spindle externally of 'said body for providing angular displacement of said valve plate, said valve plate being formed integral with a plurality of tubular injector nozzle elements extending perpendicularly from said plate and serving to locate cartridges or capsules, outlet and drainage ports in said plate adapted to be brought into registration with said body outlet port, an annular feed channel formed in said valve plate on its underside, passages through said valve plate communicating said channel with said injection nozzle elements and three outwardly extending branch limbs formed in said channel and adapted to be brought into registration with said body ports so as to admit liquid to said channel, said valve plate having three positions whereby (i) two of said limbs can be positioned to place said channel in connection respectively with said body inlet and outlet ports for direct passage of liquid therebetween without entering said mixing chamber or (ii) one branch limb of said channel can be placed in connection with said body inlet port and said valve plate outlet port can simultaneously be placed in connection with said body outlet port to enable liquid to pass hrough said chamber and out through said outlet ports or (iii) the body inlet port can be closed ofi and said drainage port can be placed in connection with said body outlet port to allow drainage of said mixin chamber.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein studs with or without spigoted ends are moulded integrally with said valve plate and form spacing means to support cartridges and capsules in a position above said valve plate.

7. A mixing and dispensing apparatus for mixing materials with a flowing liquid and comprising a hollow body having a base, a detachable cap secured on said body, a mixing chamber defined by said body and said cap, inlet and outlet ports in said body for admission and discharge of liquid and to permit of drainage therefrom, the improvement comprising a valve plate mounted for angular displacement within said chamber, a plurality of injection nozzles elements provided on said plate so as to extend perpendicularly thereto and serving to locate cartridges or capsules, outlet and drainage ports in said plate adapted to be brought into registration with said body outlet port, a feed channel formed in said valve plate on its underside, passages through said valve plate communicating said channel with said injection nozzle elements, a plurality of branch limbs formed in said channel and adapted 'to-be brought into registration with said body ports so as to admit liquid to said channel, a spindle projecting from the underside of said valve plate and extending through said base, a lever member secured to said spindle for providing angular displacement of said valve plate and stop means provided to limit the angular displacement of said valve plate at two positions by engagement with said lever whereby said valve plate is located to discharge liquid or solution.

8. Apparatus claimed in claim 7, wherein bracket arms are moulded integrally with said body, said stop means being provided on said bracket arms.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said bracket arms being curvilinear in plan so that when attached to the wall the apparatus possesses shock resistance.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,220,656 11/1965 Birdsong.

WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

R. I. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

